Anion-directed cationic supramolecular dyes with reversible mechanochromism and fabric staining

It is vital to create supramolecular dyes with excellent photo-luminescence properties based on host-gust interaction. In this study, we present three novel self-assembled cationic supramolecular dyes driven by host-guest electrostatic interaction and with ultrasmall cavities. These cationic dyes were developed and synthesized using pyridine-substituted phenanthrene, triphenylamine (TPA), and tetraphenyl ethylene (TPE) as chromophores through the pyridine quaternary ammonium salt reaction. These anion-trapped supramolecular dyes exhibit outstanding aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics as well as reversible mechanochromism behavior and high solid-state fluorescence quantum yields (∼60.87 %). Furthermore, the cationic supramolecular dyes directly stain cotton fibers with 50 % dyeing rate in water-methanol solutions, in which the deprotonated glucose-O- guest possibly interacts with the cationic dye through host-guest encapsulation. Additionally, we characterized the dyeing process through IR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Due to the reversible, tractable, and high-contrast mechanochromism of the dyes, they can make up a color-changing flower pattern. Thus, we anticipate that these dyes will have potential applications in information security storage and anti-counterfeiting.